Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-08-27
THE UNION VETERAN LEGION.
What It l.. Whom It Was Formed, and
How II X Growing.

How II i Growing.
The manly action Of PittsburE Eucamp-
mcut 40. /, l'nion Veteran Legion, yes
terday in connection with the course the
e. \. L. folks saw ij to pur-uc, raised
a host .ot inquire, aS 10 what the Lc-
..on Wa, and how 1t dinr:cd from the
uon-pmtisau' Grand Army. The Mon
veteran Legion was organized in pitt>hurg
about iour years ago, aui now has eighteen
Encumpmrnts mustered, with several
other in process OF formation. These are
mostly in Pennsylvania, but there ia on,
rucampment in Stcubcnyiilc, one in Drs
Moines, and several scattered over the
West aud North. George b. Chalmers OF
Plitshurg Is Commander-in.Chic,.
The objects of the order are:
"iu-, The cultivation trnr devotion
To- American government ana institutions.
"S,rD1d The moral, social and intel
ltytUll improvement OF it, members, and
their r,liet, and the relief OF their widows
aud orphans in sickness aud distress.
"7hiri The preservation Of friendly
relations between those who fought for
the safety of the American mon.
"iandh BY the personal example and
irlluenCr q, It's members 10 p"rprtudte
the three great principles Of Fraternity,
Charity aud Patriotism, and to promote
the interests rf humanity.
"FGh All things being equal, to give
preference to is mrmhrra IN all business
relations. aud 10 assist them as fJr aS
possible in all honorable ways.
The Constitution, IN regard to member
ship, says, in relation to who may become
members
Soldiers, sailors uuI marines Of the
mon Army, Navy and Marine Corps dur
ng the war OF the Rebellion, who Volt y
uLEETD for term OF three years and were
honorablv discharged for any cause after q
service Or at least two continuous years, oT
wrTr ut any time discharged bv reason OF
wounds received IN the line Of duty, pro,
yided said culistmant was previous To July
l-t, l-G3; hut no drafted person, nor sub.
sttutr, nor any one who has Al any time
horne arms against the United States is Il.
Igihlc.
An Eucampment may hc formed by the
authority OF the National Commander, on
the application in writing at not less than
sixteen .l6i soldiers, sailors or marines
whose service comes within the provisions
of the article quoted above and no In.
campment shall be recognized by the mem.
berS of the Union Veteran Legion unless
acting under a legal aud nulorleitcd char.
ter. The officers of each EnCampmcut are
Col. Commander, Lieut. Colonel. Major,
Officer Of the Day. AdiEtant, Quarter,
master, Chaplain, Officer of the Guard.
NJ gyc1, Sergeant Mairr Qur,rrma ,tcr
Sergeant, Color Bearer, Sentinel and Drum.
mrr or Bugler.
The stated meetings OF the Natiuual In.
campmenta are TO be held annually, between
the lrst Monday OF January and the inst
Monday OF May, as may he fixed by the
National Commander hy consent OF the
Advisory Committee on the State of the
Legion, and at such place "a shall have
been determined at the Previous stated
meeting. The National EaCampment is
composed OF the National Commander, the
Vice National Commander, Of l.ncanument
Colonel Commanders, and one representa-
tive from each Encampment Tor each fifty
members in good standing therein, and one
additional representative for Gaal irac-
tion OF more than Uuc-half of that number;
such representatives to be elected by bal
lot nv the several Eucampmtnts
The official badge consists Of miniature
strap and ribbon, to which is pendant a
bronze cross of the legion OF honor for the
several Offices Of the nion Veteran Legion
this strap to he one ani one.half inches in
length, one half inch in width cnamcled,
with border one-siItccnth OF an inch IN
width, Of gold OF gilt, and on It 10 he the
insignia of official position in the Union
Veteran Legion. The field for National
officers is black, for EucamPment officers
dark blue.
Encampmcnt 20. |, of Fitt,burg has
over over JUu members, and is one Of the
crack veteran organization o. That b.
CITY. Abolt two huuGred and uity ot
the memhcra came dCwE yesterday, and
that tl,y Sre a nne body men all who saw
them can testify.